San Francisco Giants: Will Tyler Beede get the start on Friday?
With Derek Holland landing on the injured list with a bone bruise in his finger, the San Francisco Giants will need a spot starter for Friday’s game. Who should it be?
For the first time this season, the San Francisco Giants will hand the ball to a starting pitcher who was not part of the Opening Day rotation.
Thus far, no one outside of Madison Bumgarner, Dereck Rodriguez, Jeff Samardzija, Derek Holland and Drew Pomeranz has started a game.
However, with Holland placed on the injured list with a bone bruise in his left index finger, the Giants could turn to a spot starter for Friday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds.
And it sounds like 2014 first-round pick Tyler Beede might be the guy.
“Tyler was so good in spring training for us that I think one of the big storylines for us early this year was going to be whether he carried that into the season,” president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi told Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area. “And he certainly has.”
Beede, 25, struggled through a tough 2018 season, posting an 8.15 ERA in 74 innings at Triple-A and a similar 8.22 ERA in a pair of starts with the MLB club.
However, this season has been a different story.
He has simplified his repertoire and seems to be reaping the rewards with a 1.99 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and an eye-popping 34 strikeouts in 22.2 innings at Triple-A.
With that strong showing, he’s earned a shot at redemption after an ugly first taste of MLB action last season. His prospect star has faded a bit, but he can still be a major piece of the long-term puzzle if he builds off this early success.
With an off day on Thursday, the Giants do have the option to simply skip Holland’s spot in the rotation this time around.
Beede deserves to be rewarded for his hot start, though.
As a member of the 40-man roster, a corresponding move will not need to be made to bring him up to the majors, making it even easier to give him the opportunity he deserves.